Passing this strangulation bill has been a goal of anti-domestic-violence groups for years. It becomes law this year on the heels of a domestic-violence incident involving expelled state senator Hiram Monserrate and an incident involving David Johnson, the aide to David Paterson who has been arrested for, among other alleged acts of violence, choking his girlfriend. He is being charged with misdemeanor assault.

Of course, that’s “strangulation into unconsciousness,” so there’s no telling what kind of legal hijinks could ensue if one were to be caught “choking mothafuckas out” sans “out.” But still, a step in the right direction in terms of ridiculous laws New York has in place that make for nothing more than good trivia questions, the benefit of which is probably outweighed by, say, someone getting away with an absurd legal leniency. For the record, the “Cabaret Law” still exists in 2010.